Before you write an argument, decide your position and write a thesis statement. Then list your reasons and choose the strongest three.
Order your paragraphs carefully. Many writers put a strong point first, a counter-argument with a reply in the middle, and their strongest point last, just before the conclusion.
Choose a planning tool: a table for points and evidence, a Venn diagram for comparisons, or a for-and-against grid for a balanced argument.
Worked example
Which planning tool is best for comparing two characters?
- Comparing means showing similarities and differences.
- A Venn diagram shows both clearly.
Answer:a Venn diagram
Key words
- thesis
- your main argument in a sentence
- counter-argument
- an opposing view
- structure
- the order of your ideas
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: W.6.1a